2019 Infography: schooling for expatriate children
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Schooling for expatriate children
2019 Infography
The Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE) and Expat Communication published in early June the first results of the third wave of their 2019 Barometer. This detailed analysis allows us to measure the impact of international mobility on the lives and careers of expatriates and dispels many clichés. For this first infography, Expat Communication chooses to deal with the subject of the educational system: which schools are chosen by expatriate parents? For what reasons? What do they do when they return? What impact does this have on the family’s life? Thanks to our (former) Expat Lab Project Manager, Caroline de Courcel, and to you, the 7,600 expatriates who responded to our questionnaire, we can now offer precise answers to these questions.
First observation: a large majority of children follow their parents in their country of expatriation. This specificity is also a positive element, because the presence of the children is a very positive factor of integration for the parents.
We have proceeded to study the 3 most represented school curriculums:
- The school curriculum in french
- The local school curriculum
- The international school curriculum
- The school system on return from expatriation
- Secondary education for expatriate children
- The impact of school on parents’ socialization
1) The French school curriculum
The French education system is very popular with French expatriate parents.
The French system is chosen by 60% of French expatriate parentsfor at least one of their children. It is important to remember that we interviewed expatriates in154 countries and that among them, only 5% answered that their educational choice had to be made by default in the absence of other local offers. Parents who choose the French system move more often than those who choose the local system. The major advantage of the French system lies in the continuity of schooling for families who move frequently.
2) The local school curriculum
1 out of 3 French expatriate parent chooses the local school system in the host country for at least one of their children. This choice is explained by: the geographical proximity of the school for 58%, a personal development of the child for 46% and for the language of teaching for 35%.
The education of children sent to local schools is financed in 69% of cases by the parents themselves. Financial considerations are one of the main reasons for choosing a local curriculum for 22% of parents surveyed.
3) International school curriculum
1 out of 5 parent chooses the international school system for at least one of their children.
TheInternational Baccalaureat (IB) remains the international system most followed by the French who have chosen an international curriculum with 53% of the children, followed by the English “British School” system for 33%. The education of children sent to another international system is funded in 55% of cases by a parent’s company but 48% of parents finance it by themselves.
4) The school system on return from expatriation
On return, the reality is different: only 13% of children are still enrolled in the international system. The cost of these schools is at stake, the end of schooling paid for by the company and, above all, the scarcity of places in international schools.
See our guide to international schooling in Ile de France!
5) Secondary education for expatriate children
What impact does this have on the future of expatriate children? Does taking children on expatriation mean that they too will be expatriated as adults?
While 54% of French expatriate children study in France, the rest are divided almost equally between those who stay in the host country and those who study in a third country.
5) Secondary education for expatriate children
Finally, the school plays an important socialization role for the parents of these expatriate children. In fact, for 67% of parents, school is an important factor of social integration and favors the creation of friendships during expatriation.
Methodology
Expat Communication conducted this survey by internet questionnaire from February 15 to April 30, 2019 among adults of all nationalities who have lived or are living an expatriation experience of at least one year.
The total number of responses is sometimes greater than 100% for a given question because respondents had several choices; for example, for questions about school choices: parents may have several children with different backgrounds.
Take the current survey
The questionnaires are available in French or English. This link is accessible from your computer, tablet or phone.
Duration of the questionnaire: about 5 min
Your answers are treated confidentially, and if you wish to receive the results directly and answer our future surveys, you will be redirected at the end of the questionnaire to a second link to guarantee the anonymity of your answers to our survey.
Your participation is essential, thank you in advance for taking time to respond.
Sabine Garnier-Posez
After studies and a professional career in economics and accounting, Sabine expatriated with her family, first to Morocco, Brazil, Germany and is now in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Sabine joined Expat Communication as Project Manager of the Expatriation Barometer
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